The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-01

this will also serve to show why il will be DIM
cult to introduce the use of tub, wasnboard and
clothesline.
In many localities the rivers. which in the dry
season become reduced to mere rlvuets, are the
only source of water supply, and are used for al
most every conceivable purpose lnnumeraDie
little dykes dams and bitches are constructed
by the scores of women who do washing for
living and who each must have a small supply
OF water for daily use. At one place tanner
may be seen scraping and washing green nioes,
at another the butcher securing tripe. just De-
low housewife will be cleaning the boiled corn
for the family dinner, while at other points
grooms will be engaged in securing horses, ana
native washing his person in the stream, EVIL
IDENTITY bordering the probability of his eff
forts being rewarded by the recovery OF shirt
which he remembers having put in other
days.
few feet from the margin of the river an
occasional hole is dug, and the water whicn
hlters therein through the sand is used by nun
dreds of families for all domestic purposes.
There is much of this washing and securing
done In the river, that. during the low stage OF
water. the entire stream becomes terribly foul
and filthy, and the smells arising therefrom sur
pass, not only in number but in variety and Ia
tenslty, those which some one discovered In the
streets of Cologne. If any of the stlnks OF Co
logne escaped from the discoverer before he had
time to count and classify them, am prepared,
at any time, to tell whore they may be found.
Quite sight in many of the cities OF Mexico
is the cargador street porter. Few of the
Cities save the lines of railroads. have any
public drays. express wagons or trucks, and the
- the work OF the cargadors. These men use
heavy pad cushion, lying across
the back from shoulder to shoulder, held
in place by broad strap of leath-
err canvass, fastened to each end
of the pad, and passing to the front across the
forehead. They cannot lift very large load
from the ground, but will carry weight that is
astonishing when placed in position upon
their padded shoulders and partly resting against
the back of the head. l once saw quite small
cargador carry load, which. not only on &C
count of the weight, but also by reason OF Its
unweildy shape, l hardly thought could be
of queensware. The height and thickness OF
the cask were about equal, and the weight was
49o pounds. 1t badly-shaped package to
control, yet the little nativex when the load was
once placed in position, marched off with 1t
without apparent effort Another OF these
porters carried away barrel of vinegar weigh
ing 400 pounds. He preferred to carry rather
than roll 1t short distance. A cargador. In
places where he has not been spoiled" b. the
proverbially liberal American, will carryS trunk
or other similar package any reasonable distance
for medic Is ceuts) and very often is content
to receive cuartillo (3 cents for such service.
group Of these street porters dressed in
buckskin suits trimmed with metal buttons and
ornaments of various designs presents rather
jauntv and pleasing appearance.
These sights, and so many others common to
the country, may now be seen by the visitor who
is looking for something strange and novel
Foreign influence Is doing much to break up
and destroy many of the customs and pc
culiarities of the people-especially along the
be that is quaint and full of in terest to the
observing traveller who visits Mexico, whether
in search of health diversion, for the pur-
pose of studying the habits and customs of
peculiar people-a people who are strangely
obstinate in clinging to the usages of the past,
and slow to adopt anything new that tends to
progress and improvement, whether in affairs of
government. In commerce or In social life.
ID. w q.